Automatic musical instrument.



Patented May I5, I900. J. A. WESER. AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

(Application filed J \m. 13, 1900.)

5 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

v WITNESSES: 9% Game/7? M INVENTOR 7 ATTORNEY Pnorwumon wAsnmumN. n. c.

no. 649,623. Pa'tentad m l5, I900;

.1; A. wzszn. AUTOMATIC MUSICAL IANSTR-UIENT.

(Application Mod Jam. 13, IQOO.)

5 Shah-Shut 2,

- (In Nodal.)

mvimgf 7 ATTORNEYS No; 649,623. Patented May I5, I900. J. A. WESER.

I AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

(Appiication filed Jun. 13, 1900.) (No Ilodul.) 5 Sheets-Shunt 3.

No. 649,623. Patented May I5, I900. J. A. WESEB.

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

(Application filed Jan. 13, 1900.)

- WITNESSES: 28

J. A. WE SEB.

Patanted- May I5, 1900.

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

(No Modal.)

(Application filed Jan. 3, 00.)

5 Sheets$huet 5 To all whom it may concern:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. VESER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 649,623, dated May 15,1900.

Application filed January 13, 1900. Serial No. B327. (N model.)

Be it known that 1, JOHN A. \VESER, a cilizen of the United States,residing in the borough of Manhattan, in the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in AutomaticMusical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the class of automatic musical instrumentswherein a perforated strip of paper wound from one roller onto anotherby some motive power controls the sounding of the notes, and as hereinshown the invention is represented as applied to an automatic pianoconstructed according to the invention illustrated and described in mypending application, Serial No. 678,832, filed April 26, 1898.

The object of the present invention is in part to provide an automaticrewinding mechanism for the perforated musicstrip, in part to provide anautomatic guide for keeping said strip in register during its movement,in part to provide an automatic stop device to arrest the movement whenthe strip is wound up, in part to improve the automatic means fordepressing the key-levers out of the way of the music-strip during therewinding, and in part to provide other and minor improvements, whichwill be hereinafter described.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, Wherein-Figure 1 is a general view, on a relativelysmall scale, of a piano towhich my invention is applied, the view being a vertical transversesection. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the drawer, in and on which aremounted the various mechanisms for controlling the movements of themusic-sheet. Fig. 3 is a plan of said drawer, showing the interiorthereof. Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively views of the left-hand andright-hand ends of said drawer, and Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of thedrawer. These views are on a larger scale than Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a Viewsimilar to Fig. 5, illustrating a slightly-modified form andconstruction of the operating-Weight. Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail viewof the parts seen at the left in Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a plan of the same.Fig. 10 is a section at line 02 in Fig. 8, from which some of the partsare omitted; and Figs. 11 and 12 are detail views of the stop mechanism.Fig. 13 is an enlarged side view, Fig. 14 is a plan, and Figs. 15 and 16are fragmentary detail views, of the devices for automatically guidingand controlling the register of the musicstrip. Fig. 17 is a fragmentarydetail view of the device for depressing the key-levers. Figs. 18 to 20are fragmentary detail views of the speed-regulator; and Fig. 21 is afront View of a part of the instrument on the same scale as Fig. 1,illustrating the application of the speed-regulator.

It has not been considered necessary in this application to illustratefully the entire musical instrument for the reason that this has beendone in my before-mentioned pending application and for the additionalreason that my present invention is not restricted in its application tothis particular kind of instrument. It will only be necessary to saythat the automatic piano (seen in Fig. 1) is adapted to be and issupposed to be operated by an electric motor, which drives thewinding-rolls carrying the perforated music-strip and also actuates thehammers which strike the strings of the instrument.

In Fig. 1, 0 represents the case of the upright piano. 1W1 is themotor-shaft from which power is derived for actuating the hammers andthe music-strip, and D is the drawer under the keyboard of the piano,which contains the music-strip and rolls and carries substantially allof the mechanism included in the present invention.

Referring now to the more detailed figures of the drawings, 1 is theroll which carries the perforated music-strip S and upon which it isrewound, and 2 is the roll upon which the said strip is wound or takenup in playing. On the prolonged journal 2 of the roll 2 is mounted andsecured by a clutch a beveled gear-wheel 3, with which gears at alltimes a pinion 4 on a shaft 5, which derives motion from the electricmotor. 0n the prolonged journal I of the roll 1 is fixed a beveledgear-wheel 6, which is at all times in gear with a pinion 7, fixed onone end of a rotatable shaft 8, which shaft has fixed on its other end apinion 9. This pinion 9 is always out of gear with the wheel 3 when theinstrument is playing, but is adapted to be put in gear with said wheelfor rewinding, as will be now explained with especial reference to Figs.8, 9, and 10.

Mounted to slide on pins in the face of the wheel 3 and backed by asuitable spring or springs 10 is a clutch-disk 1.1, slidable on thejournal 2 and provided on its outer face with two ratchet-likedriving-teeth 12 to be engaged by a cross-pin 13 in the journal 2 Theclutch-disk is held in engagement with this pin 13 by the springs 10,and while thus engaged the roll 2 is driven from the wheel 3.

An upright 14, hinged atits lower end to the drawer D, is provided witha forked fingerpiece 15, which bears on the outer face of theclutch-disk 11, and said upright also provides a bearing for the journalon this end of the shaft 8. Obviously by pressingin the upper end of theupright 1-1 toward the drawer D the finger-piece 15 will press back anddisengage the clutch-disk 11 from the pin 13, and thus loosen the wheel3 from the roll 2; but at the same time the teeth of the pinion 9 willbe put in gear with those of the wheel 3, and the continued rotation ofthelatter Wheel will act, through the pinion 9, shaft 8, and pinion 7,to drive the roll 1 in the proper direction to rewind the music-strip Sthereon.

The above-described shifting of the gears for rewinding is effectedautomatically by means that will now be described with especialreference to Figs. 2 to 10.

A lever 16, bent to the convenient shape shown, is fulcrumed at 16 onthe drawer and carries a pendent hook-arm 17, which engages a hole inthe upper extremity of the upright 14, and the free arm of this lever 16is coupled, Fig. 5, by a link 18 to an upright branch on one of two arms19 and 19 which are pivotally attached to the respective ends of thedrawer D, Figs. et and 5, and carry an operating-weight XV, which in theprincipal views forms the front of the drawer. This weight is upheld,Fig. 3, by areta-ining lever-latch 20, fulcrumed on the drawer, theouter end of said latch being made to take under a stud 21 on the innerface of the weight \V by any suitable latch-spring 20 and thus supportsaid weight. To trip the latch 20 and allow the weight to fall, there isa transverselyarranged lever 22 on the drawer, this lever bearingagainst the inner arm of the lever-latch. The lever 22 carries at itsfree end, Figs. 2 and 3, an upright stud 22 ,which bears or presseslightly on the under surface of the music-strip S as the latter is drawnover it (moving to the rightin Fig. 2) in playing. The music-strip hasin it a perforation or aperture, (a in Fig. 3,) which when the air ortune is finished comes to register with the stud 22 Said stud protrudesupward through the aperture, is engaged by the strip, and the lever 22moved to the right in Figs. 2 and 3, and the latch 20 thus shifted so toallow the Weight V to fall. The rewinding now begins by the action ofthe weight through the lever 16 on the clutch device and continues untilarrested bya stop device, which will now be described with especialreference to Figs. 8 to 12.

There is a break in the operating-circuit c c of the instrument at oneside of the drawer D, of which break a contact-piece 23 on the side ofthe drawer forms one terminal and an upright metal arm 24, mounted torock a little in pivot-bearings 24 on the drawer, forms the otherterminal. A light leaf-spring 25 on the drawer tends to break thecircuit and at the same time to swing the arm 2% outward far enough fora beveled detent-tooth 26 thereon to engage ratchet-teeth 3 on the innerface of the wheel 3. To maintain the electrical contact at the saidbreak, the lower bar 2% of the arm 24 has a short branch 24, Fig. 11,which passes through an aperture in the back of the drawer D and carrieson its inner extremity a loosely-mounted nosepiece 27, which bears onthe under surface of the passing music-strip S, the latter pressing downthe nosepiece during the rewinding, and thus maintaining the circuitunbroken. When, however, a suitably-placed aperture in the music-stripcomes to register with the nosepiece 27, the spring 25 is left free toact and break the circuit, thus stopping the current through the motor,while the detent 26 promptly arrests the motion of the driven parts dueto momentum. The piece 27 has a little play or rocking motion on the arm2 F, so that it can yield a little to the pull of the music-strip, andthus obviate the tearing of the latter.

During rewinding it is very desirable that the key-levers 28 shall bedepressed a little in order that they may clear the music-sheet which ispassing over them, and automatic means are herein provided for effectingthis depression when the weight XV falls. Before describing thedepressing device it may be well to explain that in the drawer D thereis mounted a supporting-plate 29, over which the music-sheet plays inits movements to and fro, and that under said plate, arranged abreast,are the key-levers 28. These levers correspond each to a key and stringof the piano, and when a note is to be sounded an aperture in themusic-sheet S comes into register with the proper key-lever, the upperextremity of which projects up through the apertured plate 29 and bearson the under side of the strip S, and this permits the lever to rock onits fulcrum and permit the shoe to drop on the roller and the note tosound; but when the weight XV falls it depresses the entire set ofkey-levers 28. To effect this result, a barSO extends across in front ofthe upper ends of said levers, and this bar is connected by toggles 31,Fig. 3, with a fixed bar 32 on the under side of the plate 2-9. To theknuckles of the toggles is coupled a transverse rod 33, to which isloosely coupled the crank-arm 343 on one end of a shaft S t on the backof the drawer D, Fig. 6, said shaft having another crank arm 3 Fig. 1-,which is coupled by a link 34 with the arm 19 of the weight W. When theweight falls, the shaft 34 is rocked and the rod 33 drawn out, so as tostraighten or partially straighten the toggles, thus causing the bar topress backward and downward the upper ends of the key-levers 28. Thesupporting-block 29*, Fig. 17, of the plate 29 has formed in its uprightedge a series of kerfs or recesses adapted to receive the upper arms ofsaid levers when they are pressed back. In Fig. 3 a part of themusic-sheet S and a part of the supporting-plate 29 are broken away inorder to better disclose the mechanism beneath.

It is very desirable that the music-sheet S beproperly held down to theplate 29 at the point where the key-levers are situated and that thesaid strip while moving should be held in place during its movement, sothat the usual longitudinal lines of apertures therein may be kept inregister with their respective key-levers, and the devices for effectingthese objects are illustrated best in Figs. 13 to 16.

The plate 29 is slotted, as usual, for the reception of the upper armsof the key-levers 28, and extending across over said plate is acarrying-arm 35, pivotally mounted in a bracket on the back of thedrawer D at 35. Springs 35 between the drawer and upright branches onthe carrying-arm at the pivots tend to throw up the free or front end ofsaid arm, and an inclined upright wiper 36 on the carrying-arm isadapted to take under the board B over the drawer and depress said armwhen the drawer is pushed in.

Mounted on the under side of the carryingarm 35 is a pressure-bar 37,which has elastic or cushioned attachments to the arm. This bar 37,which is kerfed atits under side, so as to bear on the music-sheet onlybetween the rows of perforations therein, is secured at its inner end toa bow-spring 38, Figs. 13 and 15, said spring being secured to the underside of the carrying-arm 35, and at its front or outer end said bar isfixed to an upright screw or stem 39, which plays in an aperture in thearm 35, a c0mpression-spring 40 being interposed between the head ofsaid screw and said arm. In order to carefully regulate the pressure ofthe bar 37 on the music-strip, two rocking cams 41 are pivotally mountedin the arm 35, as seen in Fig. 13, and adapted to bear on the back ofthe bar 37, and the upper arm of each of these cams is pivotally coupledto an operating-rod 42. The two rods 42 extend forward through anupturned flange on the arm 35 and have nuts 43 on their respectivescrew-threaded extremities. By means of these rods and nuts the cams 41may be rocked so as to depress the bar 37 to the exact extent required.

The music-strip 8 being usually of paper or other material which tendsto become distorted slightly under the influences of weather and climateis apt to run out of line or veer slightly from one side to the other,

and as itmust travel in a straight line in order to produce good andequable results automatic means are herein employed to keep it in lineand register.

Mounted in the drawer D and extending in the direction of the movingstrip S are two like arms 44 and 44 pivotally mounted at 45 and 45 so asto swing laterally, and on these arms are mounted, respectively, twoflanged guides or keepers 46 and 46 which embrace the respective edgesof the moving music-sheet and keep it alined. The arms 44 and 44 arecoupled, respectively, by links 47 and 47 to the respective upper andlower arms of a lever 48, fulcrumed at 49 in the drawer under themusic-strip. By rocking the lever 48 on its fulcrum the keepers 46 and46 may be moved simultaneously inward or outward at will. Any lateralpressure on one of the keepers causes them to separate or move apart,and a pressure exerted on the outwardly-projecting arm 48 of the lever48 also spreads apart said keepers. A relatively-light spring 49 underthe arm 48 tends to hold the keepers or guides up in line with the sheetand in their normal positions. In order that the guides 46 and 46 may bespread apart when the drawer D is drawn out, and thus have themusicstrip S free for adjustment, a lever 50 is employed. This lever hasa cushioned fulcrum at 50 in the drawer. One arm of the lever is coupledby a link 51 to the arm 35, and the other arm has a lateral branch 50,which takes over the arm 48 of the lever 48. lVhen the drawer D is drawnout, the springs 35 raise the arm 35 and, through the link 51, rock thelever 50, thus causing its lateral branch 50 to rock the lever 48 andseparate the guides or keepers of the music-strip.

It is preferred to employ the wooden front of the drawer D as a weightand to provide it with a spring-push 52, Fig. 3, having a beveled noseadapted to act on and laterally displace the lever 20 when the push ispressed in, and thus free the weight W and allow it to fall. Thisfeature is a convenience for stopping the mechanism and reversing itmanually independently of the automatic devices. But it is not necessaryto employ the drawer-front as a weight. In Fig. 7 (which shows the sameend of the drawer as Fig. 5) the weight IV is suspended from the arms 19and 19 below the bottom of the drawer.

In order that one may manually arrest the motion of the music-strip andprolong a note at will, a simple brake and shifting mechanism is employed, which will now be described with especial reference to Figs. 2,3, 5, and 6.

An L-shaped rocking lever 53, mounted to rock in the end of the drawerD, has an upturned end 53 Fig. 3, which when said lever is rockedpresses against the end of the roll 2 and acts as a brake to check itsrotation. The outer arm of the lever 53, as seen in Fig. 5, is coupledby a spring-link 54 to another bent rocking lever 55, mounted inbearings at the back of the drawer D, and provided with an arm orthumb-piece 55 which projects out where it can be pressed upon in orderto arrest the motion of the music-sheet. It will be obvious, however,that unless the roll 2 be thrown out of gear with the drivingpinion 4the proper braking effect cannot be produced, and hence the bent lever55 is provided with an upright arm 56, (seen best in Figs. 6 and 8,)which when this lever is rocked by pressure on the arm 55 presses backthe clutch-disk 11 out of gear with the journal 2 of the roll 2. Whenpressure is removed from the arm 55 the parts resume their normalpositions through the influence of springs 57 and 10 (Seen best in Figs.5 and 10.)

In Fig. 1 is illustrated a means operated by the foot for momentarilyarresting the rotation of the friction-drum F, which actuates thehammers through the shoes 3, as described in my pending applicationbefore mentioned. This drum is driven through an elastic belt I). Apedal 58 is mounted in the lower part of the case 0, and this pedal iscoupled by a connector 59 to the end of a lever 60, also mounted in thecase. This lever carries a roller-stud 61, which takes inside the belt babove the drum F, and when the pedal 58 is depressed the roller 61descends and stretches the belt 6 until it is practically free from thepulley on the drum, when the latter ceases to rotate.

When the music-strip S rolls up on the roll 2, the roll graduallyenlarges, and while the rotary speed or velocity remains the same thestrip travels gradually faster and faster. To obviate this, aspeed-regulator is employed to reduce the velocity or speed of the roll2 proportionately to the gradual increase in diameter due to the rollingup of the musicstrip thereon. This regulating device is illustrated inFigs. 18 to 21 and will now be described. Fig. 18 shows the device inplan, Fig. 19 is a side view, and Fig. 20 is a view from the right inFigs. 18 and 19. The roll 2 is seen with a part ofthe strip S woundthereon. Mounted to slide in the end of the drawer D is a slide 62,carrying at its inner end a roller 63,which bears on the strip wound onthe roll. As the roll increases in diameter the slide 62 is pushedoutward and its outer end, which bears on a lever 64., fulcrumed on thedrawer, presses said lever outward. The lever 64: bears on one arm of abell-crank lever 65, fulcrumed on the instrument-case, and the other armof the lastnamed lever is coupled by a connector 66 with an arm on abelt-shifter 67, Fig. 21, which shifts the belt 68 along the cone-pulley69 on the shaft of the motor 70 and along the counter cone-pulley 71,from which the music-strip is driven, thus reducing the speed of saidpulley 71 proportionately to the increase in diameter of the roll 2. Therelative positions of the parts are made capable of nice adjustment bymeans of a cone-shaped bearer 72,

I screwed onto the lever 61 in such a manner that by shifting it alongsaid lever the outer end of the slide 62 may be made to bear on it atany desired point in its length. The object in mounting the lever (55 onthe instrument-case and the lever 64 on the drawer is to enable thedrawer to be moved without disturbing the lever and connector 66.

It will be obvious that modified and equivalent constructions may beemployed in lieu of those shown and described without departing from myinvention. I have shown what I believe to be the best mode of and meansfor carrying out the invention.

It will be noted, as before stated, that when the nosepiece 27 engages asuitably-placed aperture in the music-strip the spring 25 breaks thecircuit through the motor (as in Fig. 21, for example) and the rewindingof course is arrested. At this time the weight WV (or W as the case maybe) will be down. Now in order that the replacing of the weight-that is,the reclosing of the drawerfrontmay again close the circuit through themotor automatic means are or may be provided, which will now bedescribed with especial reference to Figs. 2, 3, 5, 9, and 11.

On the inner face of the back of the drawer D is fulcrumed a lever 73,one arm of which extends over and bears on the arm 24; and the other armof which projects through a slot in the adjacent end of the drawer D, asseen in Fig. 5, out over the arm 19, which supports the weight W at thatend. Normally the arm 19 raises the outwardly-projecting arm of thelever 73, thus depressing the other arm thereof and with it the arm 24,and thereby putting the terminal arm 24- into contact with the terminal23, so as to com plete the operating electric circuit; but when theweight W falls this pressure 011 the lever 73 is removed, and thecircuit will then be held closed only by the pressure of the nose piece27 on the underside of the music-strip.

It will be noted that the front V of the drawer D is adapted to open bya swinging movement about the points of attachment of the lever-arms 19and 19 so as to descend edgewise and open the drawer at the front. Thisconstruction avoids inconveniences of the construction where thedrawer-front is hinged at its lower edge and opens outward. The objectin providing the arm 35 with two widely-separated hinging branches (seenin Fig. 14) and two hinging-points 35 is to give steadiness of movementto the arm and avoid the necessity of a guide or keeper at its frontend.

By providing independent means for do pressing the bar 37 at oppositeends while the music is playing the depression of said bar may becarefully regulated under the guidance provided by the musical soundswhich direct the operator in the regulation. It will be noted that theends of the pressure-bar 37 may be independently depressed by the rods12.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In an automatic musicalinstrument, a traveling music-sheet, a weighted and normally-supportedshifting-lever, means operated by said sheet for freeing said weightedlever, mechanism for moving the music-sheet, and shifting mechanism,actuated by said weighted lever for reversing the direction of movementof the music-sheet, substantially as set forth.

2. In an automatic musical instrument, a traveling music-sheet, rollsfor winding said sheet, mechanism for driving the take-up roll inplaying, and for driving the other roll in rewinding, a normallysupported and weighted shifting-lever, means operated by the movingmusic-sheet for freeing said lever, and shifting mechanism actuated bysaid lever for shifting the driving power from the takeup roll to theother roll for rewinding, substantially as set forth.

3. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination with the rolls 1and 2, the musicsheet which winds from one roll onto the other, thedriving-shaft 5, the wheel at thereon, the wheel 6 on the journal of theroll 1, the shaft 8, the wheel 7 thereon, in gear with the wheel 6, andthe wheel 9 thereon, of the wheel 3, on the journal of the roll 2, andin gear with the wheel 4, a clutch which normally couples the wheel 3 tosaid journal, and means, substantially as described for simultaneouslyuncoupling the wheel 3 from the journal and putting the wheel 9 in geartherewith for rewinding, substantially as set forth.

4. In a rewinding mechanism for automatic musical instruments, thecombination with the rolls 1 and 2, the wheel 3, clutched normally tothe journal of the roll 2, the drivingshaft, and a wheel4= thereon ingear with the wheel 3 for driving said roll, of a drivingshaft 8, andgearing for driving the roll 1 therefrom, said shaft having a swingingbearing adjacent to the wheel 3, the wheel 9 on the shaft 8, and meansfor simultaneously moving said wheel 9 into gear with the wheel 3, andfor unclutching the latter, substantially as set forth.

5. In an automatic musical instrument operated by an electric motor, thecombination with the apertured music-strip, the rolls 1 and 2, and thewheel 3 on the journal of the roll 2, said wheel having teeth 3, ofmechanism whereby the music-strip, at the termination of the rewinding,breaks the operatingcircuit and checks the rotation of the roll 1, saidmechanism comprising a rocking frame having an arm and nosepiece whichtakes under the moving music-strip, and having also a spring tending topress the nosepiece up against said music-strip and to open theoperative circuit, and a detent tooth 26, whereby when an aperture inthe music-stri p comes to register with said nosepiece, said springrocks said frame and simultaneously breaks the circuit and puts thedetent 26 into engagement with the teeth 3 as set forth.

6. In an automatic musical instrument operated by an electric motor, thecombination with the apertured music-strip, the rolls 1 and 2 therefor,the wheel on the journal of the roll 2, means for driving said wheel 3from the motor, and means between the wheel 3 and roll 1, whereby theformer drives the lat ter for rewinding, of the operating-circuit,having in it a break, means whereby the imperforate portion of themoving music-strip maintains the circuit closed at said break, a springwhich opens said break when the strip is rewound, and means, actuated bysaid spring, for arresting the movement of the strip at the moment thecircuit is broken, substantially as set forth.

7. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination with a travelingmusic-strip, a rewinding mechanism therefor, and a drawerD, having afront IV, carried by arms 19 and 19 and adapted to open by adownward-swinging movement, of the said arms, means for supporting saidfront when closed, and mechanism between said drawer-front and therewinding mechanism whereby the former, by opening, sets the latter inoperation, substantially as set forth.

- 8. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination with therewinding mechanism, and the weight which operates the latter, of thelever-latch 20, the stud 21 on the weight and taking over said latch tosupport the weight, and the latch-displacing lever 22, provided with astud 22 to engage the musicstrip at the proper moment for rewinding,substantially as set forth.

9. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination with therewinding mechanism, and the weight and levers which operate the latter,said weight having a projecting part which takes over a retainingspring-latch, the said retaining-latch 20, and the spring-push on theweight, adapted to displace said latch, substantially as set forth.

10. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination with thetraveling musicstrip, and the plate over which it moves, of the movablekeepers for the strip situated at the respective opposite edges thereof,means connecting said keepers whereby they are compelled to movesimultaneously in opposite directions, and means which press saidkeepersyieldingly toward each other, whereby pressure of the moving striplaterally outward on one of said keepers automatically moves the keepersaway from each other automatically, substantially as set forth.

11. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination with thetraveling musicsheet, and the plate over which it moves, of the movablekeepers 46 and 46 at the opposite, respective edges of said sheet, thelever t8, the links, .27 and 47 coupling the respective keepers to therespective arms of said lever, whereby said keepers are compelled tomove in opposite directions simultaneously, and spring mechanism whichpresses said keepers yieldingly toward each other,whereby the pressureof the moving strip outwardly on said keepers serves to adjust them tothe strip, substantially as set forth.

12. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination with thetraveling musicstrip, and the plate over which it moves, of the keepers46 and eG at the respective opposite edges of said sheet, the pivotedarms carrying the respective keepers, the lever 4:8, the links couplingthe respective arms and keepers to the arms of said lever, and thespring 49, operating said lever so as to cause the keepers to movetoward each other, substantially as set forth.

13. In an automatic musical instrument having a drawer D, under a part Bof the case of the instrument, the combination with the travelingmusic-strip mounted in said drawer, and the plate over which it moves,of the arm 35, hinged to the drawer and provided with a spring to throwit up and a wiper 36 to depress it when the drawer is closed, and thebar 37, below said arm and coupled thereto with spring connections,substantially as set forth.

14. I11 an automatic musical instrument having a drawer D, under a partB of the case of the instrument, the combination with the travelingmusic-strip mounted in said drawer, and the plate over which it moves,of the arm 35, hinged to the drawer and provided with a spring to throwit up and a wiper 36 to depress it when the drawer is closed, the bar37, below said arm and coupled thereto by spring connections, andmeanssubstantially as described, mounted on the arm 35 for depressingthe bar 37, substantially as set forth.

15. In an automatic musical instrument having a' drawer D carrying themusic-strip and its operating mechanism, the combination with the plateover which said strip moves, the keepers at the respective edges of thestrip, and the lever 48, coupled at opposite sides of its fulcrum to therespective keepers, of means substantially as described for rocking saidlever and thus spreading the keepers when the drawer D is drawn out,substantially as set forth.

16. In an automatic musical instrument,

the combination with the slotted plate over which the music-strip moves,the series of key-levers 28, the upper ends of which engage therespective slots in said plate, and the means substantially as describedfor pressing down the ends of said levers when re- Winding, of aweighted lever, and a rocking lever 34, coupled through its arm 34', tosaid weighted lever, and coupled by its arm 34 to the slide of thedevice for depressing the key-levers, whereby when the weighted leverfalls the key-levers will be depressed, substantially as set forth.

1?. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination with themusic-strip, the

roll 2 on which it is wound in playing, the cone-pulleys and belt whichdrive said roll, and ashifter for said belt, of a slide provided with aroller which bears on the sheet wound on the roll 2, and means betweenthe said slide and the belt-shifter for operating the latter through themovement of the slide, for reducing the speed of said roll,substantially as set forth.

18. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination with the inusio-strip, the roll 2 on which it is wound in playing, the conepulleysand belt which drive said roll, and a shifter for said belt, of a slideprovided with a roller which bears on the sheet wound on the roll 2, thelever 04, actuated by said slide, the lever 65, actuated by the levertit, and the connector 66, between the lever and the said belt-shifter,substantially as set forth.

19. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination with the inusic-strip, the roll 2 on which it is wound in playing, the conepulleysand belt which drive said roll, and a shifter for said belt, of a slideprovided with a roller which bears on the sheet wound on the roll 2, thelever 64-, provided with a conical, adjustable bearer on which the slideimpinges, and means between the lever 6-1; and the belt-shifter wherebythe former actuates the latter, substantially as and for the purposesset forth.

20. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination with a travelingmusic sheet or strip, a weighted and normally-supported shifting-lever,means operated by said sheet for automatically freeing saidshifting-lever, and shifting mechanism actuated by said weighted leverfor reversing the direction of movement of the music sheet or strip forre winding, of automatic means for arresting the movement of the stripwhen it is wound up, substantially as set forth. a

21. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination with a travelingmusic sheet or strip, a weighted and normally-supported shifting-lever,means operated by said sheet for automatically freeing saidshifting-lever, and shifting mechanism actuated by said weighted leverfor reversing the direction of movement of the music sheet or strip forrewinding, of automatic means for arresting the movement of the stripwhen it is rewound, and automatic means for setting the musicstrip inmotion for playing when the weightshifting lever is again lifted,substantially as set forth.

22. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination with amusic-strip and its rolls, electrical means for driving said strip,mechanism for reversing the direction of movement of said strip, aweighted and normally-upheld shifting-lever, and means operated by themoving strip for automatically freeing said shifting-lever so that itmay reverse the driving mechanism in falling, of means for automaticallybreaking the operating-circuit when the strip is wound up, and.

means for closing said circuit automatically, by the lifting of saidweighted lever to its normal elevated'position, substantially as set'forth.

1' In an automatic musical instrument, the combination with amusic-strip and its rolls, electrical means-for driving said strip,mechanism for reversing the direction of movement of said strip, aweighted and normally-upheld shifting lever, and .means 0perated by themoving strip for automatically freeing said'shifting-lever so that itinay reverse ,the driving mechanism in falling, of the circuit-breakeradapted to be actuated automatically by the moving strip at thetermination of the rewindin g movement, and the-intermediate'circnit-closin g lever 73, adapted tobe actuated by theelevation of the weighted shifting-lever to its normal position,substantia'lly as setforth'.

24. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination with the slottedplateove'r which the music-strip is drawn, and the said strip, ofkey-levers under said plate and adapted to be rocked so as to be' belowthe upper surface of same, and guides for the keylevers situated belowsaid plate, substantially as set forth.

25. In an automatic musical instrument,

- the combination with the slotted plate over which the music-strip isdrawn, the said strip, means for driving and rewinding said strip,

the pivoted key-levers below and under said plate with upper endscoincident with the slots therein, and guides for the upper ends of saidkey-leversnnderneath said plate and registering with the respectiveslots therein,

substantially as set forth.

26. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination of the slottedplate 29, the pivotally-inonnted key -levers under said plate andcoincidentwith the respective slots therein, and the kerfed block 29*,under said for the upper end of the key-levers when they are depressed,substantially asset forth.

the combinationwith the traveling musicstrip,and the slotted plateoverwhichit moves, of the arm 35, having two widely-separated hingingbranches to steady the arm in its said arms, the springs for pressingsaid arm upward,and a pressure-bar 37, under and conplayed,substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name, this 11th day ofJanuary, 1900, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses. JOHN A.WESER. Witnesses: 'CI QRLES IIUNTON,

Wmmnm) S. Wssnn.

: 2?. In an automatic musical instrument,v

nected yieldingly to saidarm, substantially for operation while theinstrument is being plate, the kerfs in said block serving as guidesmovements, means for limiting the rise of

